Pierre

Pear tree

‘Conference’ pear tree; Pyrus communis ‘Conference’

• 
  Easy care
• 
  Bright light
• 
  Pollinator friendly

• Pierre likes...
  • 
    A sunny spot

    He’s happiest somewhere bright and sheltered from wind. He needs a good amount of sun to produce fruit. Fruit trees work well against walls for warmth and shelter.

  • 
    Moist soil

    Check him once a week in warm months to make sure his soil is moist. Rain will probably water him enough in winter.

  • 
    Feeding

    It’s important to feed him regularly in spring and summer to help him produce fruit. Once a week is ideal.

• Quick facts

  Botanical name

  Pyrus communis ‘Conference’

  Nickname

  ‘Conference’ pear tree

  Plant type

  Fruit tree, outdoor

  Plant height (including pot)

  90-100cm

  Pet/baby safe

  Yes

  Nursery pot size

  18cm

• About pear trees

  Growing your own fruit is one of the biggest joys of gardening. A pear tree gives great results with very little effort, providing fruit from late summer to autumn. You might be surprised by how little space you need to grow one.

  This tree is specially bred for growing in pots and will remain compact. It will be perfectly happy on a patio or large balcony. We wouldn’t recommend planting it in the ground as it won’t grow into a large tree.

  A pear tree is an investment. They're best planted up when they're dormant (have lost their leaves and are not actively growing) between autumn and spring. While they'll be so busy growing healthy roots that you’re unlikely to get fruit the first year after they're planted, take care of them and they’ll reward you with fruit ever after. Sweet-smelling blossom will appear in spring, which will then develop into fruit. The fruit grows slowly and you should be able to pick it from late summer.

  Water regularly to keep the soil moist, but make sure excess water can drain out of the bottom of the pot. Give a weeklyfeedin spring and summer to help with fruit production. Other than that the only real work involved in maintaining your tree is giving it a yearlyprune, to remove dead growth and encourage a good shape.

  In late winter or early spring, snip off any dead or damaged branches. Then give it a bit of a general haircut to tidy up the shape. It’s good to thin out the branches in the middle of the tree, so they don’t crowd each other. Don’t worry if you make mistakes with the shape. It will all grow back.

  Did you know?

  There are around 3,000 different varieties of pear. If you can name them all without googling, well, we’ll probably give you a job.